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England, Spain, Bosnia, Russia reach World Cup

Updated: 2013-10-16 14:12
(Agencies)

England, Spain, Bosnia, Russia reach World Cup

Spain's Juan Mata (2nd R) celebrates his goal with his teammate Alvaro Negredo next to Georgia's Giorgi Khidesheli (R) and Guram Kashia during their 2014 World Cup qualifying soccer match at Carlos Belmonte stadium in Albacete Oct 15, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

Greece defeated visiting Liechtenstein 2-0 as Dimitris Salpingidis scored in the seventh minute and  Giorgos Karagounis added a goal in the 81st.

Russia won Group F with a 1-1 draw at Azerbaijan as Roman Shirokov scored in the 15th. Portugal finished a point back after defeating visiting Luxembourg 3-0 on goals by Silvestre Varela, Nani and Helder Postiga.

Italy, which already had clinched its place at Brazil 2014, had a 2-2 draw with Armenia at Naples. Alessandro Florenzi and Mario Balotelli scored for the Azzurri.

After securing top spot in its group last week, Germany rallied for a 5-3 win at Sweden with Andre Schuerrle's second-half hat trick following goals by Mesut Ozil and Mario Goetze.

A 2-1 win by Chile over visiting Ecuador earned both nations berths. Alexis Sanchez scored for Chile in the 35th minute and Gary Medel added another three minutes later, while Felipe Caicedo scored for Ecuador in the 66th.

Uruguay was fifth on goal difference after a 3-2 win at home over already qualified Argentina and will play a home-and-away playoff against Jordan, the fifth-place team in Asia. Cristian Rodriguez and Edison Cavani scored around a Luis Suarez penalty kick for the hosts, and Maxi Rodriguez had two goals for the visitors.

Honduras began the day three points ahead of Mexico in the fight for the last automatic qualifying berth from CONCACAF, and a 2-2 draw at Jamaica was enough to reach Brazil.

Mexico will face a two-legged playoff against Oceania champion New Zealand, with the winner qualifying for Brazil.

In the African playoffs, Ghana thrashed Bob Bradley's Egypt national team 6-1 in the first leg of the home-and-away series. The second leg is scheduled for November 18 in Cairo.

Bradley was hired by Egypt in September 2011, 15 months after Ghana beat Bradley's U.S. team 2-1 in the second round of the World Cup. Egypt, ranked 50th, haa not qualified for the World Cup since 1990.

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